Listed below are the approved requirements for the program from the official Academic Programs Catalog.
Students must consult their advisors to learn which specific requirements apply to their degree programs.
Following this section are the requirements as represented in Degree Navigator, MSU's online advising tool. The Degree Navigator section is only available for programs using Degree Navigator for degree certification.

College of Engineering

Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science

Undergraduate Programs

Materials Science and Engineering

Materials Science and Engineering majors learn to select and create materials used to realize engineering designs in fields such as bioengineering, microelectronics and aerospace. They also learn how to manipulate the elements of matter into the atomic arrangements that insure efficient and cost-effective materials performance, demanded by today’s advanced applications.

Through the core course work, students gain the scientific and engineering foundation needed to design metallic, ceramic, polymeric, and composite materials and, in turn, components manufactured from these materials. Students may enhance the knowledge they gain in metals, ceramics, and polymers by completing a concentration in biomedical materials, manufacturing, polymers, or metallurgy. Students may also choose to enroll in electives of complementary fields such as business, electronic materials or statistics. Honors students are encouraged to request an honors option with the instructors of MSE courses listed in item 3.a. below.

The Bachelor of Science Degree program in Materials Science and Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Materials Science and Engineering

The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 128 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering.

The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Materials Science and Engineering major is met by completing Materials Science and Engineering 466. That course is referenced in item 3. a. below.

Students who are enrolled in the College of Engineering may complete the alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences that is described in item 1. under the heading Graduation Requirements for All Majors in the College statement. Certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be used to satisfy the alternative track.

The requirements of the College of Engineering for the Bachelor of Science degree.

The credits earned in certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward College requirements as appropriate.

The following requirements for the major:

a.

All of the following courses (41 credits):

CE

221

Statics

3

CEM

152

Principles of Chemistry

3

CEM

161

Chemistry Laboratory I

1

ECE

345

Electronic Instrumentation and Systems

3

ME

222

Mechanics of Deformable Solids

3

MSE

250

Materials Science and Engineering

3

MSE

260

Electronic, Magnetic, Thermal and Optical Properties of Materials

3

MSE

310

Phase Equilibria in Materials

3

MSE

320

Mechanical Properties of Materials

3

MSE

331

Materials Characterization Methods I

2

MSE

360

Fundamentals of Microstructural Design

3

MSE

370

Synthesis and Processing of Materials

3

MSE

381

Materials Characterization Methods II

2

MSE

466

Design and Failure Analysis (W)

3

STT

351

Probability and Statistics for Engineering

3

Electrical and Computer Engineering 302 and 303 may be substituted for Electrical and Computer Engineering 345.

b.

Four of the following courses (12 credits):

ME

477

Manufacturing Processes

3

MSE

425

Biomaterials and Biocompatibility

3

MSE

460

Electronic Structure and Bonding in Materials and Devices

3

MSE

465

Design and Application of Engineering Materials

3

MSE

474

Ceramic and Refractory Materials

3

MSE

476

Physical Metallurgy of Ferrous and Alluminum Alloys

3

c.

Complete at least 6 credits from 400-level courses within the College of Engineering.

d.

Complete at least 3 credits in courses selected from a list of approved technical electives available from the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science.

Concentrations in Materials Science and Engineering

Students may elect to complete a more focused set of courses to enhance their ability to function at the interface with another scientific, engineering, or business discipline. Concentrations are available to, but not required of, any student enrolled in the Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering. Completing the Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering with a concentration may require more than 128 credits. The concentration will be noted on the student's transcript.

Biomedical Materials Engineering
To gain interdisciplinary skills in human biology and earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering with a biomedical materials engineering concentration, students must complete requirement 3. a. above and the following (28 credits):

1.

All of the following courses (16 credits):

ANTR

350

Human Gross Anatomy for Pre-Health Professionals

3

CEM

351

Organic Chemistry I

3

ME

495

Tissue Mechanics

3

MSE

425

Biomaterials and Biocompatibility

3

ZOL

341

Fundamental Genetics

4

2.

Two of the following courses (6 credits):

MSE

460

Electronic Structure and Bonding in Materials and Devices

3

MSE

465

Design and Application of Engineering Materials

3

MSE

474

Ceramics and Refractory Materials

3

MSE

476

Physical Metallurgy of Ferrous and Aluminum Alloys

3

ME

477

Manufacturing Processes

3

3.

At least 6 credits from a list of approved technical electives.

Manufacturing Engineering
To gain interdisciplinary skills with business and design engineers for manufacturing projects and earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering with a manufacturing engineering concentration, students must complete requirement 3. a. above and the following (21 credits):

1.

All of the following courses (12 credits):

ECE

415

Computer Aided Manufacturing

3

ME

477

Manufacturing Processes

3

ME

478

Product Development

3

MSE

465

Design and Application of Engineering Materials

3

2.

Three of the following courses (9 credits):

GBL

323

Introduction to Business Law

3

MSE

426

Introduction to Composite Materials

3

MSE

474

Ceramic and Refractory Materials

3

MSE

476

Physical Metallurgy of Ferrous and Aluminum Alloys

3

Completion of this concentration fulfills requirement 2. of the admission requirements for the Master of Science degree in Manufacturing and Engineering Management offered by The Eli Broad College of Business.

Metallurgical Engineering
To enhance the student’s ability to characterize, process, and design with metals in association with mechanical engineers and earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering with a metallurgical engineering concentration, students must complete requirement 3. a. above and the following (21 credits):

1.

All of the following courses (18 credits):

ME

423

Intermediate Mechanics of Deformable Solids

3

ME

475

Computer Aided Design of Structures

3

ME

477

Manufacturing Processes

3

MSE

465

Design and Application of Engineering Materials

3

MSE

476

Physical Metallurgy of Ferrous and Aluminum Alloys

3

MSE

481

Spectroscopic and Diffraction Analysis of Materials

3

2.

One of the following courses (3 credits):

ME

425

Experimental Mechanics

3

MSE

426

Introduction to Composite Materials

3

Polymeric Engineering
To gain interdisciplinary skills to facilitate interactions with chemical engineers and earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering with a polymeric engineering concentration, students must complete requirement 3. a. above and the following (21 credits):

1.

All the following courses (18 credits):

CEM

351

Organic Chemistry I

3

CHE

311

Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer

3

CHE

472

Composite Materials Processing

3

CHE

473

Chemical Engineering Principles in Polymers and Materials Systems

3

MSE

426

Introduction to Composite Materials

3

MSE

460

Electronic Structure and Bonding in Materials and Devices

3

Any approved 890-891 independent study or topics course

3

2.

Complete at least 3 credits in courses selected from a list of approved technical electives available from the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science.

Degree Requirements from Degree Navigator.

NOTE: Degree Navigator is an advising tool only and should not be viewed as a contract with the student.
Any questions about the requirements should be directed to an academic advisor.

Electives: 0 credits from Electives at Michigan State University and transfer coursework. This number can change based on the credits of the coursework taken to fulfill University, College, and Major requirements. Please contact your academic advisor with any questions.

Requirement 39: University Residency

University Residency: 30 credits from MSU coursework, 27 credits from MSU courses taken after reaching junior standing, 20 credits from courses offered by MSU while admitted to major & 20 of the last 30 credits must be MSU courses. Please see academic advisor.

Requirement 40

128 credits required to complete this degreeThe specified coursework in this program may not equal this total. The difference must be made up of open options which must be acceptable within the limits of this program. In cases of doubt, please consult an academic advisor.